NormandyandBrittany
Pre-DepartureInformation
Welcome!
TRAVELINFORMATION
Passport
Visas
Money
SpecialDiets
Tipping
Communications
Electricity
MEDICALINFORMATION
Inoculations
HELPFULINFORMATION
Photography
BeingaConsiderateTraveler
ReadingList
PACKINGLIST
TheEssentials
WTGearStore
Luggage
Clothing
Equipment
PersonalFirstAidSupplies
OptionalItems
We’redelightedtowelcomeyouonthisadventure!This
bookletisdesignedtoguideyouinthepracticaldetailsfor
preparingforyourtrip.Asyouread,ifanyquestionscometo
mind,feelfreetogiveusacallorsendusanemail—we’re
heretohelp.
PLEASESENDUS
TripApplication:Complete,sign,andreturnyourTrip
Applicationformassoonaspossibleifyouhavenotalready
doneso.
MedicalForm:Complete,sign,andreturnyourMedical
Formassoonaspossibleifyouhavenotalreadydoneso.
AirSchedule:SendusacopyofyourAirScheduleonce
you'vemadeyourflightarrangements.RefertotheArrival&
DeparturesectionoftheDetailedTripItineraryfor
instructions.Pleasefeelfreetoreviewyourproposedschedule
withWildernessTravelbeforepurchasingyourticketsifyou
haveanyquestionsaboutthetimingofyourarrivaland
departureflightsorwouldliketoconfirmwehavethe
requiredminimumnumberofparticipantstooperatethetrip.
PLEASECAREFULLYREVIEW
TravelDocuments&MedicalInformation: Carefully
reviewtheTravelDocumentsandMedicalInformation
sectionsofthisbooklettofamiliarizeyourselfwithPassport
andVisaentryrequirementsforyourdestination,aswellas
anyrecommendedinoculations.
OptionalTravelInsurance:ReviewtheTripCancellation&TransferFeeSchedule
includedintheDetailedItinerary.WerecommendthatalltripmemberspurchaseTravel
Insurance.
FinalDocuments:Approximatelythreeweeksbeforeyourtrip,wewillsendyoufinal
departuredocuments,includinghotelandlocalcontactinformationandrendezvous
instructions.
QUESTIONS?
Call:1-800-368-2794,gotoourwebsite:www.wildernesstravel.com,ore-mailusat:
[email protected]
TravelInformation
PASSPORT
Avalidpassportisrequiredforyourtrip.Besuretochecktheexpirationdate.Yourpassportmustbe
validforthreemonthsafteryourdateofexitfromFrance.Inaddition,werecommendyourpassporthave
atleasttwocompletelyblankvisapagesforeverycountryyouwillbevisiting.Itisveryimportantthat
theblankpagessay“Visas”atthetop.Thelastfewpagesofyourpassport,whichsay“Amendmentsand
Endorsements,”andthefinalpageofyourpassport,whichmaynothaveapagenumber,arenot
consideredtobelegitimatevisapages.Youcanrequestanewpassportthroughavisaserviceagencyor
theUSPassportServicesOffice(theserviceofaddingpagesforvisaswasdiscontinuedasofJanuary1,
2016).Besuretoallowsufficienttimetoacquirethisbeforeyourtrip.
Itisagoodideatocarryphotocopiesofyourpassport’sphotopageandanyacquiredvisapagesforyour
trip(ifapplicable)incaseyourpassportislostorasanadditionalpieceofidentification,aswellastwo
extrapassportphotos.
VISAS
UScitizensdonotneedavisaforcountriesvisitedonthistrip.Ifyouareacitizenofanycountryother
thantheUS,checkwithalocalconsulateforentryrequirements.
MONEY
TheEuroistheofficialcurrencyofFrance.ThemostconvenientwaytoobtainEurosistouseyourbank
ATMcardatautomatictellersinFrance.Eurosobtainedthiswayusuallyhaveamorefavorableexchange
ratethantravelerschecksandthefeesaregenerallysmaller.TouseanATMinternationally,youmust
haveafour-digitPIN.Majorcreditcardsareacceptedinmostshopsincitiesandlargertowns.Ifyouplan
touseyourcreditcards,informyourcreditcardcompanybeforeyourdeparturethatyouwillbeusingthe
cardabroad.Travelerschecksarenotrecommendedastheycanbedifficultandtime-consumingtocash.
Youwillneedtobudgetspendingmoneyforgratuities,anymealsnotincludedinthetripitinerary,
internationalanddomesticairportdeparturetaxes,andpersonalitemssuchasbeverages.
SPECIALDIETS
Wewilldoourbesttoaccommodatespecialdietaryneeds,however,pleasekeepinmindthatcertain
culturaldifferencesorlimitationsduetologisticscanmakeitextremelydifficultandattimesimpossible
toaccommodatedietaryrestrictions.Pleaseinformusatleasteightweeksbeforeyourtripifyouhavea
restricteddiet.Itisimportanttobringaflexibleattitudeandsupplementalsnacks.
TIPPING
Tippingiscompletelydiscretionary,butovertheyears,clientshaveaskedusfortippingguidelinesto
rewardguidesforoutstandingservice.Arangeofreferencewouldbe$85-$110USDpertripmemberfor
eachTripLeader,and$50-$60USDforthedriver,whichcanbegiveninUSDollarsorEuros.TheTrip
Leadertakescareofgratuitiesforluggagehandling,waitersatrestaurants,andlocalguideswhoarewith
thegroupforonlyashorttime.
COMMUNICATIONS
TimeZone
Franceis8hoursaheadofSanFranciscoand5hoursaheadofNewYork.DaylightSavingsTimeinthe
USmayaffectthesetimes.
Telephone
TheinternationaldialingcodeforFranceis33.Pleasecontactyourcellphonecompanyforspecific
instructionsforinternationaluse.
Email&InternetAccess
Internetaccessisavailableatmostofourhotels,butconnectionsmaybespottyorunreliable.
ELECTRICITY
Francehas220-voltcurrent.Plugsusuallyhavetwoorthreeprongs.
MedicalInformation
Thefollowingrecommendationsshouldbeusedasaguidelineonly;consultyourphysicianformedical
advice.ItisvitalthatyouletWildernessTravelknowofanymedicalproblems,allergies,orphysical
limitationsyoumayhave.Pleasefilloutandreturnthepersonalmedicalquestionnaire,andfeelfreeto
consultusifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutyourabilitytoundertakethisparticulartrip.
WildernessTravelisnotamedicalfacilityandhasnoexpertiseorresponsibilityregardingwhat
medicationsorinoculationsyouandyourphysiciandecidearenecessaryforyoursafeparticipationinthe
trip.
Traveler'shealthinformationisavailablefromthe CentersforDiseaseControl.Medicaltravelproducts
areavailablefromTravelHealthMedicineandfromMagellan'sTravelSupplies.
INOCULATIONS
Noinoculationsarerequired.However,itiseasytogetasmallcut,soatetanusboosterisstrongly
recommended(goodfor10years).Ifyoutakeprescriptionmedicines,besuretobringenoughforthe
durationofyourtrip.
HelpfulInformation
PHOTOGRAPHY
Formostpeople,acompactdigitalcameraorevenacellphonewithafixedzoomlensworkswell,and
newerpoint-and-shootsandphonescanproduceexcellentqualitypictures.Forhigherqualityimages,
especiallyforprinting,andtheabilitytouselongertelephotolensesforcloserwildlifepictures,adigital
SLRiswellworthwhile,thoughheavier.Lensesof200mmor300mm,withimagestabilization,allow
youtohand-holdthecamerawithminimalcamerashake.Apolarizingfilterisuseful,especiallytoreduce
reflectiononwatersurfacesandtodeepentheblueofthesky.Packyourequipmentwellanduseplastic
bagstoprotectitfromdustormoisture.Bringwipesandadustblowertokeepyourlensesclean.Most
digitalcamerasandphonesnowhavevideooptions,andyoumayevenwanttoconsiderbringinga
GoPro.Alwayspracticeaheadoftimewithnewequipmentandbringyourmanualwithyou.Youmay
wanttoconsiderinsuringyourequipment.CameraequipmentisavailableforrentfromBorrowLenses
witha10%discountofferedtoWildernessTravelclients.
Werecommendbringingatleasttwolargecapacitymemorycards.Ifyoutakealotofpicturesandsave
thematahighresolution,itcanbehelpfultobringadigitalstorageunitorlaptopsoyoucandownload
yourpicturesandfreeupyourmemorycardsforreuseonaregularbasis.Bringabackupbatteryorsetof
batteriessooneisalwayschargedandreadytouse,andbringyourbatterycharger(andappropriateplug
adapter).Ifyourcamerausesreplaceablebatteries,bringspareswithyou.Note:fortripswhereyoumay
beawayfrompowersourcesformultipledays,considerlookingintoasolar-poweredbatterycharger.
Whentakingpicturesoflocalpeople,beawareofculturalconsiderations.HeedyourTripLeader’s
guidelinesforwhatisappropriate,andalwaysusegesturesorsimplephrasestoaskpermission.Ifpeople
donotwishtobephotographed,pleasehonortheirrequests.Weurgetravelerstoavoidgivingmoneyin
exchangeforphotoopportunities,whichonlymakesitharderforothertravelerstotakepicturesandto
haveameaningfulpersonalinteractionwithlocalpeople.
Wefindthatourclientscreatewonderfulimagesthatreallydefinetheuniqueaspectsofouradventures.
Wewouldlovetomakeuseofyourimagesinourmarketingmaterialsandourphotoblog,andrequestthat
yousendusasmallsampleofyourbestimagesandasimpleemailgivinguspermissiontousethe
photos.Pleaseemailyourphotostowtphotoblog@gmail.com.Welookforwardtoreceivingthem!
BEINGACONSIDERATETRAVELER
Pleaseshowrespectforthecultureswearevisitingbyobservinglocalcustomsconcerningappropriate
dress,particularlyinsacredplaces.YourTripLeaderisalwaysavailabletoansweranyquestionsthatyou
mayhaveregardingthis.Ifitisnecessarytouseacellphoneduringthetrip,pleasedosoprivately.
Smokingisrarelyanissuethesedays,butifyoudosmoke,pleasedosoonlyawayfromthegroup.
READINGLIST
Arecommendedreadinglistcanbefoundat LongitudeBooks.
PackingList
THEESSENTIALS
Airtickets(orE-tickets)
Passport
OneotherpictureID,suchasadriver'slicense
Expensemoney
WTGEARSTORE
TohelpyouprepareforyournextWTadventure,we'veputtogetheragreatcollectionoftopbrands
includingPatagonia,OutdoorResearch,EagleCreek,andmoreatourWTGearStore .
LUGGAGE
Soft-sidedsuitcase,withsmallpadlock(mustbeunlockedforairtravel)
Daypack,largeenoughforajacketorraingear,waterbottle,camera,andotheritemsyouwantonthe
trail
(Optional)Smallroll-upbagtocarryhomepurchases
AlthoughairlineservicetoEuropeisgenerallyreliable,itisbesttowearorcarryyourhikingbootswith
youonyourflightsintheeventthatyourluggageislostordelayed.Nearlyeverythingelsecanbe
replacedincaseofbaggageloss,butnotapairofwell-fitted,fullybroken-inhikingboots.Likewise,don’t
packvaluables,suchastraveldocuments,cameragear,orprescriptionmedicinesinyourcheckedluggage.
CLOTHING
Theclothinglistbelowisprovidedasaguidelineonly.
Lightweightraingear,suchasaGore-Texrain/windshelljacketwithhood,andGore-Texrain/wind
pants
Fleecejacketornylonwindbreaker
Lightfleecesweaterorsweatshirt
Long-sleevedshirt.Quick-drying“travel”fabricslikenylonarerecommended.
T-shirtsorshort-sleevedshirts
Hikingpants.Lightweightcottonorsynthetichikingpantsareapracticalchoice.Jeansarenot
recommendedbecausetheycanbehotandtheytakealongtimetodryiftheygetwet.
Hikingshorts.Quick-dryingfabricsarerecommended.AlsoamustforthehiketoMontSt.Michel.
Shadehatwithwidebrim—preferablyawaterproofoneyoucanuseasarainhataswell
Sturdywalkingshoesorlightweighthikingboots
Tevasorrunningshoesforsightseeingintowns
Hikingsocks.SomepeoplelikethickThorlo-typesockswithpaddedtoesandheels,oranoutersock
andsyntheticlinersock.
Underwear/sleepwear.Syntheticsdryfaster.
Bathingsuit(forhotelpools)
Casualcity/hotelattire
EQUIPMENT
Reusablewaterbottle,1qt.capacity.
Goodqualitysunglasseswithcase.
Moneybeltorneckpouch.Alwayscarryyourpassport,creditcards,andcashwithyouinamoney
beltorneckpouchtuckeddowninsideyourshirtorblouse.
PERSONALFIRSTAIDSUPPLIES
Everytripmembermustbringasmallkitforpersonaluse.Yourownexperiencewillinfluenceyour
choices.
SunscreenSPF#30orhigherandlipbalmwithsunscreen
Aspirin,ibuprofen,orTylenolformusclepainorheadache,TylenolPMforsleep
Blisterkit.Lookforthelong-lastinggel-typebandagesthatyoucanapplydirectlyonblisters,suchas
Band-AidAdvancedHealingBandagesorCuradGelMulti-DayBandages.“Liquidband-aids,”suchas
New-Skin,areusefulbecausetheydryrapidlytoformatoughprotectivecoveroverablister.
Prescriptionmedicationsproperlylabeled
Sparecontactlensesorspareprescriptionglasses
OPTIONALITEMS
Voltageconverterandplugadaptorforapplianceuseinhotels.
Collapsiblewalkingstickortrekkingpoles
Camera,sparebatteries,spareflashcards
Bandannas(manyuses)
Lightweightbinoculars
Reading/writingmaterial
Travelclock
Smallumbrella
Laundrysoapforhand-washingclothes
Revised:June13,2017